I should mention that our neighborhood is in the city but residential and has a reputation for being a bit artsy and quirky. It primarily attracts buyers who are liberal professionals (well off but not snobby), and they're typically design-forward types who appreciate historic homes. There are lots of families with young kids (great school zone), aging hipsters, DINK couples, and a handful of empty nesters.
To give you a better idea of the economic demographics, the average home price for our size place is $550-850K, up to $1M+ for restored historic homes and new build infill; you can't get much of anything for under $500K.

I will be shocked if anyone can show numbers, hard or otherwise, to support your claims.

Anecdotally, I put in a curbless shower in our last house. There was no indication whatsoever that it helped sell our house.

Having to go through the dining room to access the master bath (did I read that right?) seems like a much bigger issue than whether you have an extravagant copper tub.

1) can you link to examples of encaustic tile you think of, and marble mosaics? I love these separately as concepts, but have a hard time picturing these together in one space, to me they're of very different sensibilty. But pictures would help

2) also, picture of a copper tub you're considering? will it be easy to get into/out?

3) good materials and craftsmanship are always good for resale (and for living lol) , specific details like finish this or that , unless very important to the house's integrity, might sway somebody and charm them, or not at all. Bad design-hurts the resale. Good-helps but not neccessarily as a return in numbers.

It is a rare remodel that pays for itself on resale, and taste-specific remodels (which most of these are) pretty much never.

$1500 to go curbless is a lot less than we were looking at, and that's a very taste specific thing. As is an expensive copper tub or encaustic tiles. For resale either let the buyer do upgrades to their own taste or leave more of a blank canvas. If you're not someone's chosen professional designer it's unlikely they're going to pay extra for something done to your specific taste.

Of all of the things you WANT, the only one that might return the investment is the curbless shower. It all sounds lovely, but you won't recover the costs of the rest of your selections and despite thinking all of this is on trend, it's very specific to your taste. While I think the peacock tile sounds nice, the color won't appeal to others and could turn them off from the house. The same with the pricey bathtub.

The higher the price of a bathroom remodel, the lower the return on investment.

Sorry, but your husband is right.

I dont like curbless showers, but, that wouldnt be a deal breaker for me, but, the copper tub just might be a deal breaker. I think they always look dirty in every bathroom, I have seen them in. Love the idea of your teal tiles for your daughters bath.

Pretty sure a full blown copper setup isn't crucial for selling anything. Lovely combo though. The tiles and shower sound delightful too... but not crucial either. I'm not sure Art Nouveau is particularly trendy right now, but it is wonderful when well done. And not particularly noted in Folk Victorian farmhouses.

Sounds like lovely plans, and I can understand wanting them. But I don't think those remodels would be worth it for the return.

Have you already fully detailed out the rest of the interior in this sort of Art Nouveau fashion?

I recently remodeled my condo including two bathrooms.

My bathrooms are very taste specific to me and are not the generic bathroom which theoretically appeals to everyone. I don't regret this but I didn't worry about resale as they were done solely to please me.

As others have posted, don't remodel with the idea that you are going to get a return on your investment. The return on your investment is the pleasure you get from enjoying your design choices while you live there.

Certain items like a frameless shower are expected in a relatively upscale home.

Many people (even those not mobility challenged) like the look of a curbless shower. From what I have read. you need to hire someone who is very skilled to construct it because it requires a lot of expertise or it becomes a nightmare. I am not sure what the uncharge of $1500 includes but it seems low to me for a frameless curbless shower.

I don't think a copper bathtub would be appealing to many people and I say this as someone who has a large copper farmhouse sink; copper tile accents in the kitchen; a copper hood and a coffered copper tiled ceiling in the kitchen with uplights :-)

I don't take baths and I especially dislike freestanding tubs of any material - I had one a clawfoot tub years ago. I much prefer a large luxurious shower which is what I chose to have in my master.

Make your bathroom the MASTER bathroom and not a Shared thru the dining room. I have bought at least ten houses and they all
Had a private master bath. Make yours private and let the rest take care of itself. That is the
Glaring error in your thinking..... when you sell you will want top dollar for a master. And yours is Not Top Dollar to begin with.

Even a realtor local to your area probably can't give you the numbers you're looking for, but they can give you an idea of what features add value in your area and where you should invest to try to maximize your resale potential.

There is almost no resale value to any of that. Resale is determined by your comps. Not what you way over improve in the home. HGTV lies big time.

To be honest, there is only downsides for what you are thinking. Resale two years from now, will be about appealing to the widest number of buyers. The features you are considering are difficult and expensive to do in a new build. They are very problematic in a vintage home. Stop now and if you must update accessories, lighting, and wall colors. Only spend big money on things you can take with you. Sorry. Hubby is right. Step back. Consider repairing things that could come up on buyer inspection report. I am speaking as someone who bought a Victorian home built in 1900 and we did a room at a time as funds were available. We “restored” as close to the orig home as possible. We listed and had contract at asking price in 12 hours. Made great profit and the couple who bought it were thrilled we didn’t remuddle it. Be aware. Be smart. Save for your dreams in next house.

What you want to do is a remuddle and will actually lower the resale value. Someone who loves and old house does not want inappropriate tile (water jet and encaustic) that is incongruous for the era and style of the house, etc. A copper tub will not add a dime to resale.

Stop watching HGTV and learn what is appropriate for a Victorian home.